Google is a 287 billion dollar company that almost everyone uses in their daily lives. It's great because whenever you have a question you can go to Google. One huge thing Google has brought to the internet is there Maps; which is a program, free of charge, that allows people to get directions and navigate themselves. Google Maps is extremely useful; in fact, I used it today to find my dinner. Enough about that, Google Maps has plenty of wonderful features like Street-View and different routes via walking, bike, or car. The street-view is really cool and is a great way to waste some time. In order for Google to have this feature they had to send out people in cars to take pictures. Attached to these cars were wifi antennas that were capable of collecting data like email, usernames, passwords, videos, documents, and anything that is shared over a wireless connection. Over the course of 3 years Google had collected around 600 gigabytes of data. This is an extreme invasion of privacy and is now finally being brought to justice. The article goes on to talk about Google's defense, which states "Google sought to have the suit dismissed, claiming that its actions were not illegal because data transmitted over a Wi-Fi network is an electronic radio communication that is "readily accessible to the general public" and therefore exempt under the Wiretap Act. The original district court rejected Google's argument, as did the federal appeals court, which held that radio communication excludes payload data transmitted over a Wi-Fi network" (Grove). It's about time! The internet is a wonderful tool but it is constantly abused! I feel this type of work, no matter what way it would improve Google, is extremely unnecessary. What is Google going to do with my Facebook password and pictures of my senior prom? Sell them? Maybe make a couple bucks off of it? This has completely tainted my opinion of Google and it's owners. I'm ashamed.
Grove, Jennifer Van. "Google's Unwitting Wi-Fi Spying Not Exempt under Wiretap Act." CNET News. CBS Interactive, 10 Sept. 2013. Web. 26 Sept. 2013
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